EIGHT non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have urged the Government to appoint new Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) commissioners immediately after a month of the commission being left “dead”. 

“We are perturbed that SUHAKAM has ceased to function when the term of office for the previous chairperson and SUHAKAM commissioners came to an end on April 27 and to date no new chairperson nor commissioners have been appointed,” the groups said in a joint statement. 

“Without human rights commissioners, SUHAKAM cannot play the vital role it has been playing in Malaysia. They can make no SUHAKAM statements, recommendations to the Government or even hold public inquiries. 

“When there are no commissioners, SUHAKAM ceases to function and will not be able to do anything including issuing statements as well as appointing and providing directions to SUHAKAM’s staff and employees.” 

Noting its important role in the promotion and defence of human rights, SUHAKAM called it an “embarrassment” that it is in a “coma” by reason of the Government’s failure to ensure that SUHAKAM always had commissioners. 

The groups further questioned how SUHAKAM was reportedly conducting an investigation into rights violations against junior doctors in public hospitals when it did not have any commissioners to carry out such a probe. 

“SUHAKAM employees cannot act on their own if and when there are no commissioners,” they pointed out. 

The groups further called for the right people to be appointed to SUHAKAM to ensure that the commission remain vocal and not “pro-government” in order to uphold human rights in Malaysia. 

“The number of commissioners who will act without fear or favour for human rights in SUHAKAM is crucial as all decisions of SUHAKAM requires consensus failing which the decision by a two-thirds majority of the members present at meetings shall be required,” they remarked. 

The statement was signed by Aliran, Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture, Greenpeace Malaysia, International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific, Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia, Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia, the Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy, and Workers Hub for Change. – May 27, 2022 

https://focusmalaysia.my/appoint-hr-commissioners-to-dead-suhakam-putrajaya-told/